Category Archives: Cold War

Soviets shoot down Korean Air Lines Boeing 747, killing 269 people 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 1 1983)

1980s, Cold War


Video: 'What REALLY happened Korean Flight 007??'

(Thursday, September 1, 1983, 6:26 a.m. Sakhalin time; during the Cold War) — Korean Air Lines Flight 007, a scheduled Korean Air Lines flight from New York City to Seoul via Anchorage, Alaska, was shot down today by a Soviet Union Su-15 interceptor near Moneron Island when the commercial aircraft entered Soviet airspace; all 269 on board were killed including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald. Continue reading Soviets shoot down Korean Air Lines Boeing 747, killing 269 people 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 1 1983) →

Moscow–Washington hotline to cut risk of accidental nuclear war becomes operational 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 30 1963)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Hot Line Installed From Washington To Russia (1963)'

(Friday, August 30, 1963; during the Cold War) — The Moscow–Washington hotline, created in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union, began operations today as the U.S. Department of Defense made a one-sentence announcement to the world press: “The direct communication link between Washington and Moscow is now operational.” Continue reading Moscow–Washington hotline to cut risk of accidental nuclear war becomes operational 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 30 1963) →

U.S. halts bombing of Cambodia, concluding 12 years of American combat in Southeast Asia 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1973)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Cambodia and Laos [8/11]' (Aug. 15, 1973, at 41:29)

(Wednesday, August 15, 1973, 10:45 a.m. local time; during Operation Freedom Deal, part of the Cambodian Civil War, the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War in Asia) — The American bombing of Cambodia halted this morning after a final round of U.S. Air Force bombardment of suspected Khmer Rouge guerrilla enclaves. Continue reading U.S. halts bombing of Cambodia, concluding 12 years of American combat in Southeast Asia 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1973) →

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower hails Korean War truce with prayers of thanksgiving 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1953)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War


Video: 'Eisenhower Talks On Korea Armistice In White House (1950)'

(Sunday, July 26, 1953, 10:00 p.m. EDT; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower greeted the news of the Korean War Agreement, signed 59 minutes ago, with prayers of thanksgiving tonight but warned the nation that the Allies had won an armistice only on a single battleground and had not achieved peace in the world. Continue reading U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower hails Korean War truce with prayers of thanksgiving 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1953) →

Korean Armistice Agreement signed in Panmunjom to end Korean War hostilities 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1953)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War


Video: 'Korean Truce Signed (1953)'

(Monday, July 27, 1953, 10:01 a.m. Korea Standard Time; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — The long-awaited Korean Armistice Agreement was signed this morning at Panmunjom, calling for a cease-fire in the Korean War after three years of bloody fighting, effective at 10:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time (9:00 a.m. EDT). Continue reading Korean Armistice Agreement signed in Panmunjom to end Korean War hostilities 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1953) →

U.S. President John F. Kennedy calls limited nuclear test ban treaty a ‘victory for mankind’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Kennedy radio and television address on the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, July 26, 1963'

(Friday, July 26, 1963, 7:00 p.m. EDT; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, speaking to the nation tonight in a “spirit of hope,” described the treaty for a Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as a “victory for mankind” in its pursuit of peace. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy calls limited nuclear test ban treaty a ‘victory for mankind’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1963) →

U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivers ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech to 120,000 in West Berlin 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'June 26, 1963 - John F. Kennedy in Berlin'

(Wednesday, June 26, 1963, 12:50 p.m. Central European Time; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous Ich bin ein Berliner speech — one of the best-known speeches of the Cold War and among the most famous anti-communist speeches — before 120,000 people today in front of the Berlin Wall on the steps of Rathaus Schöneberg in West Berlin. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivers ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech to 120,000 in West Berlin 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1963) →

American spies Julius Rosenberg and his wife, Ethel, are executed at New York’s Sing Sing prison 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1953)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Spy Saga of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg - Decades TV Network'

(Friday, June 19, 1953) — Americans Julius Rosenberg, 35, and his wife, Ethel, 37, convicted of spying for the Soviet Union, were executed tonight at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York; Julius at 8:06 p.m. and Ethel at 8:16 p.m. EDT. Continue reading American spies Julius Rosenberg and his wife, Ethel, are executed at New York’s Sing Sing prison 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1953) →

Soviets crush anti-government riots in East Berlin 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 17 1953)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Dramatic Scenes - Berlin Riots (1953)'

(Wednesday, June 17, 1953, during the East German uprising of 1953, part of the Cold War and the anti-communist insurgencies in Central and Eastern Europe) — Soviet tanks, troops, and armored cars moved into East Berlin, and martial law was declared today after 30,000 to 50,000 rioting workers had threatened to swamp the local police and seize the East German government. Continue reading Soviets crush anti-government riots in East Berlin 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 17 1953) →

Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burns himself to death at major intersection in Saigon to protest persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnamese government 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-3) America's Mandarin (1954-1963)' (Buddhist Crisis at 33:53)

(Tuesday, June 11, 1963, 9:22 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Buddhist crisis, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — South Vietnamese Buddhist monk  Thich Quang Duc, 65, committed suicide by self-immolation, burning himself to death today at a major intersection in Saigon to protest the oppression of Buddhists by the government of President Ngo Dinh Diem, who belonged to the Catholic minority and was supported by the United States. Continue reading Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burns himself to death at major intersection in Saigon to protest persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnamese government 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963) →